Adhesively secured automobile windshield antenna

ABSTRACT

An automobile antenna which is adapted to be secured to be adhesively secured to the windshield in replacement of the fender aerial. The antenna is encapsulated within a pressure sensitive tape and permanently joined to the lead-in cable by a molded flexible coupling.

llniied Siaies Eatent Clarke 1 Feb.29,1972

[541 ADHESIVELY SECURED AUTOMOBILE WHNDSHIELD ANTENNA [72] Inventor:Edwin B. Clarke, Dorchester Apts., 266

W. Rittenhouse Sq., Philadelphia, Pav 19103 m Filed: Jan. 19,197:

21] Appl.No.: 107,683

343/897, 343/906 [51] Int. Cl. ..1-l01q 1/32 [58] Field of Search..343/71 1, 713, 873, 897, 906

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,197,601 949 ,.WV !=1Yl--FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,237,187 6/1960 France ..343/7l3 Shanoket a1. ..343/7l1 Shaw, Jr. ..343/7l3 Primary Examiner-Herman KarlSaalbach Assistant Examiner-Saxfield Chatmon, Jr. Att0rney--StanleyBilker [57] ABSTRACT An automobile antenna which is adapted to besecured to be adhesively secured to the windshield in replacement of thefender aerial. The antenna is encapsulated within a pressure sensitivetape and permanentlyjoined to the lead-in cable by a molded flexiblecoupling.

1 Claims, 5 Drawing figures ADHESIVELY SECURED AUTOMOBILE WINDSHIELDANTENNA This invention relates to a radio antenna, and more particularlyrelates to an automobile antenna which is adapted to be adhesivelysecured to the inside of a car windshield by means of a transparentflexible tape in order to prevent pilferage and vandalism of theconventional automobile fender aerials.

In view of the widespread vandalism in regard to conventional aerialswhich have been mounted as telescoping tubes and rods on the fenders ofautomobiles, new car manufacturers have now turned to the mounting ofthe radio antenna within the windshield laminates, the window beingselected because of its minimal shielding effect upon the radiofrequencywaves. However, since the permanent type installation within thewindshield itself is a relatively recent innovation, the problem has notbeen solved with respect to the estimated 50 million old model cars withconventional aerials in view of the expense ofconversion.

The present invention comprises an antenna which is encapsulated withina transparent pressure-sensitive tape which can be adhesively secureddirectly to the inside surface of the windshield. Another feature of theinstant invention is the manner in which the antenna is permanentlyjoined to the lead-in cable to the radio itself by means of a moldedflexible coupling. In this manner, the antenna can act as a completereplacement for the previously installed aerial system.

it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a radio antennafor an automobile which is adhesively secured to the inside of thewindshield without affecting visibility and without diminishing radiowave reception.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hermetically sealedcoupling for permanently connecting a flexible antenna lead to a radiolead-in cable.

Still other objects of this invention are to provide an improved deviceof the character described that is easily and economically produced,which is sturdy in construction, and which is both highly effective andefficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists ofthe details of construction and combination of parts as will be morefully understood from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the manner of attachment of anautomobile radio antenna embodying the present invention to thewindshield in replacement of the existing car fender aerial.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view and partly broken away to show the mannerof fabricating the coupling of the antenna to the radio lead-in cable.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the completed coupling.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing in which similarreference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a windshieldantenna comprising an antenna portion, generally designated as A, acable lead-in portion, generally designated as B, and a flexiblecoupling C for connecting the aerial portion to the cable.

The aerial portion A comprises a flexible conductor wire 12, preferablyof 0.015 inch gauge copper or aluminum, which is encapsulated betweentwo strips of transparent plastic tapes 14 and 16, for example, 0.020polyvinyl acetate strips having a pressure-sensitive clear adhesive,such as cellulose acetate butyrate in a latex base, applied to thesurface which is to be abutted against the windshield 15.

The cable B is generally conventional and includes a centrally disposedstranded wire conductor 20, about which is extruded a polyethylenesheath 22, a metallic shield 24 braided about the sheath 22, and apolyvinyl chloride jacket 26 formed about the braided shield. At one endthere is a jack B1 which is adapted to be plugged into a standardcomplementary female fitting (not shown) in the radio housing 27. A pin28 is electrically joined to the central conductor 20 while the casing30 is electrically connected to the metal braid 24, both by usualsoldering procedures, such as silver soldering.

In order to join the antenna portion A to the cable B, the free end ofthe latter is stripped back to expose the wire end 20 and the inner tube22 in concentric steps. A polyvinyl chloride collar 32 is slipped overthe free end of the cable jacket 26 and pushed back out of the waytemporarily. The corners of the tapes 14 and 16 are cut back diagonallyat one end to expose a short portion of the wire 12, the latter beingsoldered to the end of the conductor 20 to define a splice 34. Apartially cured rubber latex tape 36 is then wound about the strippedback end of the sheath or tube 22 up to and including the cornered endof the tapes 14 and 16. A grounding strap 38 may be connected to thebraided shield 24 and then to support the cable B by way of its eyelet40. The collar 32 is next moved forwardly over the wound latex tape 36and the entire joint compression molded with heat to die form a hermeticseal about the splice. The collar 32 may also be shrink fit about thetape 36.

The tape 36 will be cured within the molded cylinder 32 while the latterwill be plastically welded to the jacket 26 to define a flexible jointfully enclosing the end of the tapes l4 and 16. The antenna portion Amay be wound as a coil or roll prior to shipment so as to form aconvenient package.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting sincethe invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the inventionis to be determined as claimed.

What is claimed is: v

1. A transparent radio antenna for adhesive attachment to an automobilewindshield comprising an aerial portion including a metal wire and apair of pressure-sensitive plastic tapes encapsulating said metal wirein a flexible longitudinally extending sandwich, a cable portionincluding a central wire conductor, a plastic sheath covering said wireconductor, a metallic shield braided about said plastic sheath, aplastic jacket concentrically disposed about said braided metallicshield, and a jack secured to one end of said cable portion andelectrically connected to said wire conductor, said wire and said wireconductor being electrically connected at adjacent ends to define asplice, a polymeric tape wound about said splice, and a plastic collarcylindrically molded about said wound polymeric tape and having endsplastically welded to the respective plastic sheath andpressure-sensitive plastic tapes.

1. A transparent radio antenna for adhesive attachment to an automobile windshield comprising an aerial portion including a metal wire and a pair of pressure-sensitive plastic tapes encapsulating said metal wire in a flexible longitudinally extending sandwich, a cable portion including a central wire conductor, a plastic sheath covering said wire conductor, a metallic shield braided about said plastic sheath, a plastic jacket concentrically disposed about said braided metallic shield, and a jack secured to one end of said cable portion and electrically connected to said wire conductor, said wire and said wire conductor being electrically connected at adjacent ends to define a splice, a polymeric tape wound about said splice, and a plastic collar cylindrically molded about said wound polymeric tape and having ends plastically welded to the respective plastic sheath and pressure-sensitive plastic tapes. 